Apparatus for coating strip material



Dec. 1956 9. 5. WILLIAMSON ETAL 2,772,653

' APPARATUS FOR COATING STRIPIIIATERIAL Filed May 12, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Q li igwi w LIKE nfcz TE Dom/0 6". Wfl/msazghQ/zzzar A. Azzar'esen, Mall/i1? W 5301 2?!) cQ Fag mafia H. Azvreaezz Dec. 4, 1956 o. e. WILLIAMSON ETAL 2,772,653

APPARATUS FOR COATING STRIP MATERIAL Filed May 12, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 45 EYE ZYZUIE D m 0 M/l/iamm, Hdzz'zar- A. Andresezz MG/VCZZ W, 51201762; d2 Raymozzd H Azldresezz Dec. 4, 1956 o. e. WILLIAMSON ETAL 2,772,653

APPARATUS FOR COATING STRIP MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 12, 1955 c? Fay 45 J L52 45 \5'5 Z-ZZZIJTE Dam/a G. (MY/[M5015 ff/Llzzzaz'" A. Ana ream, Me/u'z? W. Sam/e1;

Dec. 4, 1956 o. s. WILLIAMSON ETAL 2,772,653

-APPARATUS FOR COATING STRIP MATERIAL Filed May 12, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 L1 2 27 1222275 Dam/a 6. m/liamsozz, H/v'lmar A. Andresaz, Me/Y/lzz W 51201021", of Faymozza 7. Andresen United States Patent APPARATUS FOR COATING STRIP MATERIAL Donald G. Williamson, Skokie, Melvin W. Snover, Winnetka, and Hilmar A. Andresen and Raymond H. Andresen, Barrington, Ill., assignors to Williamson Adhesives, Inc., Skokie, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 12, 1955, Serial No. 507,794

10 Claims. (Cl. 118-43) This invention relates to an applicator for and to a method of applying a liquid, or flowable adhesive composition, to flexible strip material. The applicator of our invention can be used for applying coatings of various types, including decorative, protective and adhesive coatings, or the applicator can be used for remoistening or activating an already coated flexible strip.

The applicator of our invention includes in one compact, portable device a combination of means for applying liquid to a flexible strip fed through the device and means for partially drying the coated strip by the time it is disposed for manual dispensing from the device for use on the spot. In the case of pressure sensitive adhesive tape, for which our applicator is particularly adapted, the portability of the device and ease and speed with which the adhesive tape can be made thereon are of great benefit from a cost standpoint where the adhesive tape is to be used on the job, since it can be made as needed and is ready for use as soon as it reaches the dispensing opening in the device. A great saving in cost results from obviating the necessity for winding the pressure sensitive adhesive tape in the form of rolls and wrapping and storing such rolls until ready to be used.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a compact, portable applicator adapted for manual operation capable of making a coated flexible strip, such as pressure sensitive adhesive tape, as the same may be needed and in accordance with the operators requirements, for immediate use on the job or at the spot where the applicator is located.

Other and further important objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of our invention, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the device showing the delivery or dispensing end thereof.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a broken, enlarged view, similar to Figure 1, but with a part of the casing removed and with parts in section.

Figure 4 is an elevational view, similar to Fig. 3 but taken at right angles thereto and partly in section.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating the operation of the device.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the line VIVI of Figure 3.

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally an applicator embodying the principles of our invention. Said applicator comprises a base 11 having adjacent one side a boss 12 (Fig. 5) provided with a socket for receiving the lower end of a vertical two-part supporting post 13. A sectional casing comprising sections 14 and 14a, formed of sheet metal or other suitable light-Weight sheet material, is adapted to be removably mounted, as by screws 15 from the base 11, which is enclosed thereby. Said two-part casing houses most of the operative mechanism Patented Dec. 4, 1956 of the applicator, but the section 14a is provided with an opening 16, through which the post 13 projects, and also with a slot 17 in its top wall, and the section 14 is provided with an opening 18, in the wall that forms the delivery end of the device. Said post 13 comprises a tubular section 13a and an inner solid stub post 19 mounted in the boss 12. The tubular section 13a is telescopically received by the stub post 19 and the two are secured together by a set-screw 43. It will be noted that the two-part housing is divided along a vertical median line so that upon removal of the screws 15 the sections 14 and 14a may be lifted away to expose the operating mechanism of the device.

A roll, or spool, mounting, indicated generally by the reference numeral 20 is carried by the upper .end of the post 13 above the two-part housing 14, 14a. Said mounting includes a socket portion 21 fitted over the upper end of said post 13 and rigidly secured thereto, and provided with an outwardly projecting rod 22 that extends in a normally horizontal direction toward the opposite side of the device from that on which the post 13 is mounted. Said rod 22 is adapted to receive a pair of spaced hub sections 23 and 24 for free rotation about said rod as an axis. The hub section 24 is placed on said rod 22 to abut an inturned boss 25 formed integrally with said socket member 21. A roll 26 of strip material 27 is next mounted on said hub section 24, which is pro vided with an inwardly facing ,disc portion 28 for insertion into the central opening 29 of said roll 26, and then the other hub section 23 is moved along the free end of the rod 22 against the other face of the roll 26, with its central disc portion 30 inserted into said roll opening 29. A spring 31 (Fig. 1) is confined against said hub section 23 by means of a butterfly nut 32 threaded upon the threaded end 33 of said rod 22. When mounted as described, the hub sections 23 and 24 are rotatable about the rod 22 as an axis with a freedom of rotation that is controllable through the medium of the wing nut 32 and the coil spring 31. By varying the amount of friction exerted by the spring 31 against the hub section 23, more or less of a drag can be placed upon the roll 26 so as to give the desired amount of tension on the strip 27 as it is manually led through the applicator from the roll as a source of supply. The roll mounting means 20 also includes a guide arm 35, which may be integral with the socket member 21 and which is provided at its lower end with a laterally extending guide flange 36. A spool guide pin 37 is secured in a lateral extension 34 (Fig 4) of said arm 35 to project in closely spaced relation across the face of the roll 26. The pin is secured in position in the extension 34 by means of nuts 38 on either side thereof. The free end of said pin 37 is provided with an annular flange 39 serving as a guide for an edge of the flexible strip 27 as the same runs in contact with the cylindrical intermediate portion of said pin 37. A wire 40 is suitably secured at one end to the pin 37, as by means of the nuts 38, and is provided at its other end with a laterally bent free end portion 41 that extends in closely spaced parallel relationship to the surface of the flange 36. In unwinding the roll 26 in the first instance, the leading end is threaded between the flange 36 and the guiding end 41 of the wire 40, as best shown in Figure 4. Said flange 36 has a smoothly rounded edge 42 over which the flexible strip 27 passes toward its vertical run through the opening 17 in the casing section 14a.

The base 11 of the device will now be more specifically described. Said base may suitably be in the form of a metal casting having down-turned flanges 45 for resting the device on a supporting surface 46. A generally horizontal web portion 47 extends horizontally between the flanges 45 to provide a supporting base for some of the parts of the device about to be described. Said web portion 47 may be provided with an elongated opening 48 that serves no particular purpose other than to reduce the weight of said base. The portion of the base casting previously referred to as the socket portion 12 for receiving the post 13 is provided with a generally rectangular recess 49 defined by upwardly sloping wall portions 50. The lower wall 51 of said recess 49 is provided with a rectangular opening 52 that serves a purpose presently to be described. A removable and disposable tray 53, suitably formed of metal foil and of the proper size and shape, is fitted into the recess 49 to provide a liquid impervious liner therefor. The tray 53 serves to hold a reservoir of the liquid that is to be applied to the strip material 27. A cover 55 overlies a portion of said tray 53 and is provided with a circular aperture 56 for receiving the neck or spout 57 of a can 58 which the liquid that is to be used in the reservoir may be purchased. By turning the can 58 upside down and supporting the same on the cover 55 with the lower open spout 57 thereof extending into the interior of said tray 53, the contents of the can automatically flows into the tray or liner 53 to maintain a level of liquid therein, indicated by the reference character L, at substantially the level of the lower open end of said spout 57. This type of automatic fountain supply is well known, but its use in this connection eliminates the necessity of pouring the liquid into a special container, or the like, and that may be somewhat of a bother when the liquid is viscous and highly sticky, as in the case of a liquid pressure sensitive adhesive composition. By providing a removable and disposable liner, such as the liner 53, we also eliminate the disagreeable task of having to clean out the fountain from which the treating liquid is supplied to the applicating mechanism. Whenever it is desired to change the supply of liquid in the reservoir, or to clean it out, all that is necessary is to press upwardly with the fingers through the opening 52 against the bottom of the tray 53 and lift it out and throw it away.

The post 13 serves as a support for the operative elements of the device that will now be described. An elongated tubular sleeve 6% is slidably mounted upon the lower portion of the post 13 for adjustment into fixed position thereon by means of a knurled set screw 61. The lower end of said sleeve 60 carries as a part thereof, either integrally formed therewith or secured thereto, a sub-combination assembly 62 of several functional parts or elements. Said sub-assembly 62 includes a laterally extending plate-like portion 63 that serves as a cover, or partial cover, for that part of the recess 49 that is not covered by the closure 55. The plate-like cover portion 63 includes a down-turned flange 64 that overhangs an upstanding wall it of the recess 49 when the cover is in place.

Said sub-assembly 62 also includes an applicator element 65, which may suitably be an integral part of the closure 63. An intermediate portion of said closure 63 is formed as a dependent semi-cylindrical wall, and it is this wall that constitutes the applicator element 65. When the sub-assembly 62 is in its normal operative position (Figs. 4 and 5), the applicator element 65 extends into the recess Q9 and a portion at least of its arcuate surface is submerged in the reservoir of liquid below the level L.

Said sub-assembly 62 also includes a doctor for cooperation with the applicator element 65. Said doctor 74 comprises an arm 71, pivotally mounted as at '72 to a part of said sub-assembly mounting, and having at its lower end a laterally extending doctor bar 73, preferably cylindrical in form or at least having a rounded surface for cooperation with the arcuate surface of the applicator element 65. The pivotal mounting 72 is provided by a pivot pin that is secured at one end in the arm 7 and that extends through the end walls of the applicater element 65. The upper free end of said arm 71 is biased by means of a spring "/7 so that the doctor bar 73 is continuously urged toward the arcuate surface of the actuator element 65 (Fig. 6). Said spring 77 comprises a bent wire, one end of which is secured in the upper end of the arm 71, as at 78, and the other end of which is secured, as at 79, in an end wall 80 of said applicator element 65'. A threaded adjusting pin is provided for determining the space or clearance between said doctor bar 73 and the arcuate surface of said actuator element 65. Said pin is threaded, as at 86 (Fig. 2) for a portion of its length for threading engagement with an internally threaded boss 87 formed integrally with said end wall 80. An enlarged, knurled head 88 is formed on the outer end of said stud 85, while the inner end thereof is formed into a smooth conical surface 89. A coiled spring 90 is mounted about the pin 85 between the knurled head 88 and boss 87 and serves to hold said pin in any position to which it is threadingly adjusted by virtue of the binding action upon the threads caused by the outward bias of said spring against said knurled head 38. The conical inner end 89 of said pin is so positioned (Fig. 6) as to be brought in contact with an adjacent edge 91 of the arm 71 when said pin 85 is threaded inwardly. Thus, by turning said pin 85 to thread the same inwardly, a camming effect between the lower conical end 89 and the edge 91 rotates the arm 71 about its pivot pin 32 against the bias of the spring 77 to hold the doctor bar 73 in the desired spaced relation to the arcuate surface of the applicator element 65. Once the adjusting pin 85 is in the proper position, it is held in that position by reason of the frictional binding of the interthreaded portions of the pin and boss 87 under the influence of the compression spring 90.

As best shown in Figure 2, the cover portion 63 of the sub-assembly 62 and the cover 55 for the remainder of the recess 49 provide an entrance slot 1% and an exit slot between their adjacent edges for the passage therethrough of a length of the flexible strip 27. A guide plate (Fig. 4), carried by bracket arms 1692 and 153 from the post 13, provides a generally plane vertical guiding surface over which the flexible strip 27 passes on its way downwardly toward the slot 1%. The upper end of said guide plate 101 is inwardly curved, as at 164 to facilitate the guiding action, and the lower end of said plate is slightly inwardly curved, as at M5 for a similar purpose. The arm brackets 162 and 1% extend, respectively, from an upper roll support 167 adjustably mounted on the tubular post 13 and from the lower roll support, or sleeve, 60, adjustably mounted on the inner solid stub post 19. Said upper roll support 1&7 carries an idler roll 119 mounted upon a shaft 111 that is fixed at one end in said upper roll support 1&7. The roll is sufficiently long to accommodate a plurality of spaced runs R (Fig. 5) of the flexible strip 27, and the axis of said roll 110 lies parallel to the axis of the supply roll In other words, both the shaft 22 and the shaft 111 extend at right angles from the post 13 and lie in substantially the same vertical plane as that of the centerline of the post. The idler roller 11-6 is vertically adjustable along the height of the post 13, but is usually held in one position thereon by means of a set screw 112.

A lower idler roll 115 is mounted from the lower roll support 60 by means of a swivel mounting that includes a lug 116 integral with said lower roll support 6 a yoke 117, and a swivel pin 118 projecting from said yoke into a bar in the lug 1.16 for receiving the same. Said yoke 117 has a laterally projecting shaft 119 on which the roller 115 is mounted for free rotation. Said yoke 117 has formed thereon on the side facing the post 13 a pair of spaced, recessed bosses I28 and 121 that are internally threaded for receiving threaded adjusting screws 122 and 123. Said adjusting screws 1.22 and 123 are threaded through portions of said lower roll support 63 to abut their free inner ends against said bosses and 121. By turning the adjustment screws 122 and 123 in the desired direction and to the necessary extent, the yoke 117 is caused to swivel about the pin 118 until the shaft 119 of said lower idler roller 115 assumes the desired angular relationship with respect to the shaft of the upper roller 110 to cause the runs R of tape automatically to space themselves in passing between said upper and lower rollers 110 and 115. The amount of such spacing, as indicated by the reference character S (Fig. 5) can be controlled by adjusting this angular relationship between the axes of the upper and lower rollers.

As the flexible strip 27 passes in its finalrun R from the upper roller 110, it is led under a spool 130 mounted at one end from an upright 131 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) with the axis of shaft 132 in a slightly angularly cocked position. The spool 130 is mounted at such a height that as the flexible strip 27 passes under it, the strip can be carried in an upwardly sloping direction toward the opening 18 to pass over a serrated edge 133 of a cutter stand 134. The leading edge of the strip 27 is drawn downwardly and twisted slightly to cause the strip to bear against the serrated edge 133 under sufficient tension to cause the edge to sever the strip. In this way, portions of the strip 27 are severed into the desiredlengths for use on the spot, thereby eliminating the usual step of winding the strip into rolls for shipment and storage until they are to be used.

Operation of the applicator In starting up the device for the first time, the lower roll support 60 is elevated, as shown in Figure 3, to raise the applicator element 65 clear of the recess 49 in the base. A roll of strip material, such as the roll 26, is mounted in place upon the hub sections 23 and 24 and the desired drag placed thereon by adjustment of the wing nut 32. The leading edge of the strip 27 is then threaded between the offset end 41 of the spring wire guide 40 and the laterally extending flange 36. Still grasping'the leading edge of the strip 27, the strip is led downwardly along the guide plate 101, under the applicator-element 65 and between the arcuate surface thereof and doctor bar 73. Since the doctor bar is urged by the spring 77 toward the applicator element 65, the strip 27 will be held with more or less friction on its opposite surfaces depending upon the positioning of the adjustment pin 85. The leading end of the strip is next passed in a plurality of runs R around the upper and lower rollers 110 and 115, but preferably only one or two runs are formed and the end loosely held during the subsequent lowering of the lower roll support 60. The can SS-can be mounted in filling position (Fig. 4) to fill the removable'tray 53 to the level L, either before or'after lowering the lower roll support 60 to its operative position.

As the sub-assembly 62 carried by the lower roll support 60 is lowered, the strip 27 automatically hugs the arcuate surface of the applicator element 65 so that even if the reservoir is filled with liquid to the level L there is no tendency of the liquid to get in back of the strip 27 to come in contact with the back surface thereof. After completing the lowering operation and securing the lower roll support 60 in its lowered position, the runs R of the strip are completed and the leading end of the strip is drawn under the spool 130 and out through the opening 18 until a coated surfaceof the strip appears at the opening, whereupon .the coated surface is temporarily adhered to the upper surface of the cutter stand 134 with a free edge projecting therefrom for grasping'purposes.

If the coating is not of the desired thickness, thedoctor bar adjustingscrew 85 is turned one way or the other until the correct adjustment is obtained. As the strip is withdrawn through the dispensing opening 18, the runs-R automatically assume the desired spaced relation if the angle of the lower roller 115 is correctly adjusted, and, if not, this is accomplished by turning the adjusting screws 122 and 123 until the proper angular relationship is obtained. Thereafterythe strip in moving through the device around the upper and lower rollers 110 and 115 automatically assumes the proper spacing S b'etweeen successive runs R, R. Since it is only the uncoated side of the strip that comes in contact with the rollers 110 and 115, there is no tendency of the strip to stick thereto, yet there is sufficient tension on the strip from its adhered position near its free end upon the upper face of the cutter stand 134 back along its entire length to the roll 26.

By virtue of the rather considerable length of strip 27 that is exposed While traveling in the offset runs R, a considerable amount of evaporation of any volatile solvent present in the coating liquid takes-place. This is particularly important where a rubber, or a rubber-resin base pressure sensitive adhesive composition is used, as will be obvious to anyone skilled in that art. Even though some volatile solvent remains in the coating applied to the strip 27, that does not interfere with its immediate use as fast as the strip can be drawn through the applicator by hand. The setting of the doctor bar 73 is such that any excess of liquid from the reservoir that is carried upwardly on the outer face of the strip 27 is prevented from continuing past the doctor bar but is caused to buildup against its lower rounded surface and to fall back therefrom into the reservoir. A very important feature of our invention is the provision of relatively opposed, stationary, curved surfaces on the applicator and doctor, since this arrangement insures a better operation and a more satisfactory gauging of the thickness of the liquid, or the amount thereof, spread over the surface of the strip to be coated. The doctor bar 73 serves to spread the liquid coating evenly over the exposed surface of the strip.

The applicator of the instant invention is capable of operating with liquids of various types and characteristics. A few examples of the various categories into which the liquids, or at least the flowable treating materials may fall are: coatings of a decorative, protective, or adhesive character; and surface activating or deactivating applications, which may include the remoistening or solvent activating of films or coatings already present on the flexible strip, or for deactivating other types of surfaces. An ordinary gummed strip may, for instance, be drawn through our applicator for moistening with water, which would then be the liquid L within the reservoir 11.

Since our applicator may find its greatest use in connection with the application of adhesive coatings to flexible strip material, we shall briefly mention some of the various types of liquid adhesives which may be used. These would include Water soluble adhesives of the dextrin, starchy, casein, animal glue or soluble gum or resin type; colloidal solutions of animal glue, starch, or the like; colloidal dispersions and emulsions,'with either water or an organic solvent as the continuous liquid phase; resin solutions; hot melts or thermoplastic resins, waxes and elastomers, or mixtures thereof; and heat activating compositions, which may be combinations of resins having latent adhesive properties that are developed by the application of heat.

Some common adhesive compositions of the water soluble type are represented by the following:

EXAMPLE I Materials: Percent by weight Dextrin 30.0 Borax 5.0 Sodium hydroxide 0.6 Preservative 0.2 Water 64.2

- EXAMPLE n Casein 16.0 26 B. ammonia 10.0

Preservative 0.5

Water 73.5

. EXAMPLE III Gum arabic 40.0 Preservative 0.2

Water 59.8

EXAMPLE IV Animal glue 40.0 Liquefier, such as calcium chloride 10.0 Preservative 0.5 Water 49.5

EXAMPLE V Rubber 15.0 Plasticizer 15.0 Naphtha 70.0

Among the self-supporting flexible materials that may be used in strip, ribbon, tape, or other more or less continuous web form may be mentioned paper, cloth, plastic, metal, and wood veneer. The metal, of course, would 'be in the form of thin sheets, foil, or the like, and would include steel, aluminum and lead.

One of the advantages of our applicator and dispenser is that of being conveniently adapted for use with intermittently run equipment, such as for example in box making equipment, where the flexible strip material may be treated, coated or the like only as and when needed. It is not necessary, therefore, to use ready-made tape that must be moistened before being applied, or expensive ready-made pressure sensitive tape. The latter is relatively more expensive because of all of the added steps of spooling and packaging, and in some instances supplying special release surfaces to facilitate unwinding without de-lamination.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that we have now provided a new and improved applicator for applying liquid to a flexible strip material. It will also be appreciated that the applicator of this invention can be used for applying coatings of various types, including decorative, protective, and adhesive coatings, as well as for the application of activating liquids for remoistening or solvent reactivating an already coated flexible strip.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 355,094, filed May 14, 1953.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of the invention may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted herein otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a device for applying a liquid to one surface only of a flexible strip, a casing forming a reservoir for said liquid and a unitary removable sub-assembly providing with said casing an entrance and exit for a flexible strip into and out of said casing, said sub-assembly comprising a member having an arcuate surface operatively immersed in said reservoir, a doctor mounted on said member and having a non-rotating convex portion in opposed closely spaced relation to said arcuate surfaced member at a point on the exit side thereof and oppositely acting resilent and adjustable stop means also mounted on said member for holding said convex doctor portion in gauged relation to said member, whereby a flexible stripmoved over the said arcuate surface from said entrance to said exit and passing between said opposed convex portion and said arcuate surface comes into contact with said liquid on one side of said strip only.

2. In a device for applying a liquid to one surface only of a flexible strip, a casing forming a reservoir for said liquid and a unitary removable sub-assembly providing with said casing an entrance and exit for a flexible strip into and out of said casing, said sub-assembly comprising a member having a non-rotating arcuate surface operatively immersed in said reservoir, a rigid bar pivotally mounted on said member for movement into parallel closely spaced relation to said arcuate surfaced member at a point on the exit side thereof above the level of said liquid in said reservoir and having a convex doc-tor portion and means supported by said member for hOlding said convex doctor portion in gauged relation to said member to spread said liquid over and limit the amount of said liquid coated onto said strip, whereby a flexible strip moved over the said arcuate surface from said entrance to said exit and passing between said opposed convex portion and said arcuate surface comes into contact with said liquid on one side of said strip only.

3. In a device for applying a liquid to one surface only of a flexible strip, a casing forming a reservoir for said liquid and a unitary removable sub-assembly including a partial closure for said reservoir providing with said casing an entrance and exit for a flexible strip into and out of said casing, said sub-assembly comprising a member forming a .part of said partial closure and having an arcuate surface operatively and stationarily immersed in said reservoir, a doctor mounted on said member and having a convex portion in opposed closely spaced relation to said arcuate surfaced member at a point on the exit side thereof above the level of said liquid in said reservoir and means also mounted on said member for adjusting and holding said convex doctor portion in gauged relation to said member to spread said liquid over and limit the amount of said liquid coated onto said strip, whereby a flexible strip moved over the said arcuate surface from said entrance to said exit and passing between said opposed convex portion and said arcuate surface comes into contact with said liquid on one side of said strip only.

4. In a device for applying a liquid to one surface only of aflexible strip, a casing forming a reservoir for said liquid and a unitary removable sub-assembly including a partial closure for said reservoir providing with said casing an entrance and exit for a flexible strip into and out of said casing, said sub-assembly comprising a member forming a part of said partial closure and having an arcuate surface operatively and stationarily immersed in said reservoir, a doctor mounted on said member and having a convex portion in opposed closely spaced relation to said arcuate surfaced member at a point on the exit side thereof above the level of said liquid in said reservoir and means also mounted on said member for adjusting and holding said convex doctor portion in gauged relation to said member to spread said liquid over and limit the amount of said liquid coated onto said strip, whereby a flexible strip moved over the said arcuate surface from said entrance to said exit and passing between said opposed convex portion and said arcuate surface comes into contact with said liquid on one side of said strip only, and a post extending upwardly from said casing for mounting said sub-assembly thereon for movement as a unit therealong from an operative to an inoperative position to facilitate the threading of said strip around said arcuate surface and between said doctor an said arcuate surface.

5. In a device for applying a liquid to a flexible strip, a casing forming a reservoir for said liquid, a sub-assembly for cooperation with said casing and relatively movable with respect thereto, said sub-assembly comprising a supporting member, an arcuate member dependent therefrom in stationarily fixed relation thereto for partial submergence into the liquid in said reservoir, a doctor carried by said supporting member and having a convex portion in opposed closely spaced relation to a portion of said arcuate member above said liquid, and means also carried by said supporting member for adjustably maintaining the spacing between the relative portions of said arcuate and said convex portions to spread said liquid and gauge the quantity of a coating thereof applied to a strip drawn against and over said arcuate member through said reservoir and past said doctor out of said reservoir.

6. A device for applying a liquid to one side only of a flexible strip, comprising a portable stand including a casing providing a reservoir for said liquid and a post extending vertically thereabove, a sub-assembly adjustably mounted from said post and including a cover for said reservoir providing slots for the entrance into and the exit from said reservoir of said strip, an arcuate member fixedly dependent from said cover for immersion in said reservoir, a doctor dependent from said cover and having a convex surface extending transversely of and in closely spaced relation to said arcuate member above the level of liquid in said reservoir, means for adjustably gauging and fixing said spaced relation, means for rotatably supporting a roll of said strip material mounted from said post, guide rolls also mounted from said post for the guiding of runs of said strip after passing through said exit slot to facilitate drying of the coating thereon and means in the path of said strip after leaving said guiding rolls for severing said strip during the dispensing thereof, whereby said strip may be unwound from said roll, inserted through said entrance slot, passed around and in contact with said arcuate member past said doctor, led out of said exit slot and trained around said guide rolls and severed by contact with said severing means, thus sequentially coating said strip on one side only, drying and severing the same.

7. A device for applying a liquid pressure sensitive adhesive composition to one side only of a flexible strip, comprising a portable stand including a casing providing a reservoir for said liquid, a removable disposable liner for said casing, and a post extending vertically thereabove, a sub-assembly including a. cover for said reservoir adjustably mounted from said post and providing slots for the entrance into and the exit from said reservoir of said strip, an arcuate member fixedly dependent from said cover for immersion in said reservoir, a doctor dependent from said cover and having a convex surface extending transversely of and in closely spaced relation to said arcuate member above the level of liquid in said reservoir, means for adjustably gauging and fixing said spaced relation, means for rotatably supporting a roll of said strip material mounted from said post, guide rolls also mounted from said post for the guiding of runs of said strip after passing through said exit slot to facilitate drying of the coating thereon and means in the path of said strip after leaving said guiding rolls for severing said strip during the dispensing thereof, whereby said strip may be unwound from said roll, inserted through said entrance slot, passed around and in contact with said arcuate member past said doctor, led out of said exit slot and trained around said guide rolls and severed by contact with said severing means, thus sequentially coating said strip on one side only, drying and severing the same.

8. A device for applying a liquid pressure sensitive adhesive composition to one side only-of a strip of flexible material, comprising a portable stand having a base providing an opening therethrough, a removable disposable lining for said opening providing a reservoir for said liquid, a sub-assembly adjustably mounted on said stand including a cover for said reservoir providing entrance into and exit from said reservoir for said strip, a member stationary relative to and carried by said cover having an arcuate surface for immersion in said reservoir, a doctor carried by said cover having a curved surface extending transversely of and in closely spaced relation to said arcuate surface, idler rolls mounted from said stand for training runs of said strip leaving said exit and severing means in the path of said strip after leaving said idler rolls, whereby a strip may be manually pulled through said device for sequential coating, drying and severing.

9. A device for applying a liquid to one side only of a flexible strip, comprising a portable stand including a casing providing a reservoir for said liquid and a post extending vertically thereabove, a sub-assembly adjustably mounted from said post and including a cover for said reservoir providing slots for the entrance into and the exit from said reservoir of said strip, an arcuate member fixedly dependent from said cover for immersion in said reservoir, a doctor dependent from said cover and having a convex surface extending transversely of and in closely spaced relation to said arcuate member above the level of liquid in said reservoir, means for adjustably gauging and fixing said spaced relation, means for rotatably supporting a roll of said strip material mounted from said post, guide rolls also mounted from said post and arranged in cooperating relationship for the guiding of runs of said strip about said guide rolls after passing through said exit slot to facilitate drying of the coating thereon, means for adjusting the angular relationship of the axes of said guide rolls for training said runs in parallel spaced relation and means in the path of said strip after leaving said guide rolls for severing said strip during the dispensing thereof, whereby said strip may be unwound from said supported roll, inserted through said entrance slot, passed around and in contact with said arcuate member past said doctor, led out of said exit slot and trained around said guide rolls and severed by contact with said severing means, thus sequentially coating said strip on one side only, drying and severing the same.

10. A device for applying a liquid pressure sensitive adhesive composition to one side only of a flexible strip, comprising a portable stand including a casing providing a reservoir for said liquid, a removable disposable liner for said reservoir, a post extending vertically thereabove, a sub-assembly adjustably mounted from said post and including a cover for said reservoir providing slots for the entrance into and the exit from said reservoir of said strip, an arcuate member fixedly dependent from said cover for immersion in said reservoir, a doctor dependent from said cover and having a convex surface extending transversely of and in closely spaced relation to said arcuate member above the level of liquid in said reservoir, means for adjustably gauging and fixing said spaced relation, means for rotatably supporting a roll of said strip material moutned from said post, guide rolls also mounted from said post and arranged in cooperating relationship for the guiding of runs of said strip about said guide rolls after passing through said exit slot to facilitate drying of the coating thereon, means for adjusting the angular relationship of the axes of said guide rolls for training said runs in parallel spaced relation and means in the path of said strip after leaving said guide rolls for severing said strip during the dispensing thereof, whereby said strip may be unwound from said rotatably supported roll, inserted through said entrance slot, passed around and in contact with said arcuate member past said doctor, led out of said exit slot and trained around said guide rolls and severed by contact with said severing means, thus sequentially coating said strip on one side only, drying and severing the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 704,434 Chevalier et al July 8, 1902 1,121,299 Sharrock Dec. 15, 1914 2,053,730 Minkow Sept. 8, 1936 2,226,155 Bjornson -1 Dec. 24, 1940 2,631,562 Gerard Mar. 17, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 35,524 Denmark Jan. 11, 1926 

